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helpful tips

We saw a checklist for things to do while you are on vacation, and it made us think of how many families end up out of town for treatment for long periods of time. If you are like us, those times may come rather unexpectedly! So if you are a friend or neighbor, this list might offer some good tips on things you could offer to do for a family that is gone for medical treatments.

Set up a schedule for lawn maintenance. For families that don’t already hire out this service, setting up a system for them will be a big time saver, and may keep them out of trouble with the homeowners association.

Check on their trash & recycling. These bins may fill up even while they are gone. We had people feeding our cats, taking out the litter, cutting the grass, etc. If those jobs are being done by neighborhood youth, they may not think to take the trash and recycling bins down to the street.

Turn the water heater to vacation mode. Believe me, water heaters are the last thing on your mind when you have a sick loved one, but this could save them on energy costs. Most families facing long-term illnesses are counting pennies, so this is a nice way to help. Just make sure you leave a note in a prominent place to let them know that you changed the setting!

Ask if they would like the water turned off to their house. During the winter, this may make a lot of sense, but not if they have pets that are still in the house. Again, if you do this, make sure to leave a prominent note. Even though they approve the action, they may not remember doing so by the time they make it back home.

Ask if they would like you to randomly check on things. If there are no pets in the house, it may sit empty and quiet for long stretches. Leaving a random light on or parking a car in the driveway can give the appearance of activity that may ward off thieves. If it is winter, shoveling the walk definitely shows activity, and could be a nice touch if the family does get to come home.